There are currently two good choices for powdered diets (meal replacement powders or MRPs) on the market. Both have been used successfully with feeding crested geckos for years. There are differences between the two brands, so we have provided some information on both crested gecko diets in order for you choose or to provide both in a rotational feeding schedule.
Crested Gecko Diet (CGD)
The oldest and most popular is Allen Repashy’s “Superfoods” line of Crested Gecko Diet MRP. It has been in production as a complete diet since 1996. Allen Repashy himself has been integral to bringing crested geckos and other Rhacodactylus species into the reptile hobby, along with Philippe de Vosjoli & Frank Fast (all three are co-authors of the famous “Rhac Bible”).
T-Rex also distributes an older version of the Repashy CGD (2.0 vs 3.x versions now available) under the name Sandfire Super Foods. This is often sold in pet stores in bottles and is readily accepted by crested geckos and other rhacs. However, many pet store chains are not carrying it due to their suppliers choosing not to offer it.
Clark’s Diet
The second option available for feeding a complete diet is Clark’s Frugivorous Gecko Diet, which tends to be very popular in Canada. It provides an appropriate level of nutrition and is very palatable to all rhacs. It has been reformulated over the past few years to be a complete diet, and now comes in additional flavors (US only for now).
Which Crested Gecko Diet is Best?
Moon Valley Reptiles prefers to use Repashy’s Crested Gecko Diet as it is readily available, has a solid, established reputation, offers a number of different flavors and our geckos love it! In addition, it includes pigments (carotenoids) for color enhancement and micro-nutrients. We have found that Repashy CGD best fits our criteria for gecko food. However, other experienced breeders swear by Clark’s Diet and have fed and bred hundreds of healthy geckos with this diet. As always, your mileage may vary!
Feeding Instructions
Both crested gecko prepared diets come in powdered form and are easily mixed with water to the desired consistency. Be sure to follow the directions on the package! Once mixed, they can last up to a week in the fridge or if you have a small number of geckos you can freeze in an ice-cube tray and thaw before offering to your crested gecko.
MRPs are formulated for “baby” geckos (hatchlings, juveniles) as well as adults. Your crested gecko feeding schedule should be to offer new food every other night, leaving the MRP in the enclosure as many geckos prefer it to be “aged” – they eat mushy, fermented fruit in the wild.
You can offer dusted crickets and other insects with both the Repashy CGD and with Clark’s Frugivorous Gecko Diet.
Other Commercial Foods
With the rise in rhac popularity, a couple of other pet product manufacturers have decided to create “special” diets for crested geckos. However, these are usually the same formulas used for other reptiles and are not tailored to the unique nature of frugivorous geckos.
Melissa Kaplan of Anapsid.org has written an excellent article on commercial reptile food, and it’s definitely worth reading to understand why these other commercial diets are not right for your geckos. Repashy CGD and Clark’s Frugivorous Gecko Diet were formulated by rhac hobbyists to replicate their dietary needs in captivity, not to make money on the latest pet trends.
Komodo Crested Gecko Diet
Komodo Diet is becoming more prominent in the UK as a replacement for the T-Rex version of Repashy CGD. The manufacturer/distributer is Underworld, which used to have rights to the T-Rex version of Repashy CGD. One issue many people report in online reviews is that it is not palatable and needs to be mixed with fruit or honey. From the ingredients, it seems more of a supplement and not a diet – as the main component of the crested diet should be fruit. This has fruit flavor, making it a cheaper alternative to Repashy CGD.
Ingredients list:
Vitamin A, C, D3 and E, spirulina,kelp, pure marigold, fruit flavour, probiotic bacteria, yucca extract, natural antioxidants, phosphourus, fine grade calcium carbonate, cranberry & carrot powder, rosehip, yeast, micronized wheat, biofac, dextrose, calcium caseinate, alfalfa meal, wheat flour.
Guaranteed Analysis:
Protein 21.5%, Oils & Fats 2%, Fiber 5%, Ash 7.5%, Calcium (ca) 2.4%, Phosphorus (P) 1%, Vitamin A 17000iu/kg, Vitamin D3 3500iu/kg, Vitamin E 175mg/kg
Crested Gecko Pellet Foods
Many manufacturers are taking their recipes for tortoise and iguana pellets and rehashing them for crested geckos with no changes. The problem here is that tortoises and iguanas eat roughage – fibrous plant matter – in the wild. They have unique flora in their gut to help break this down. Pellet foods are based on grains like ground corn and wheat flour, with additional oils to bind them together. Beareded dragon pellets are similar, with added meat meals and fats. Crested geckos do not have the grinding teeth or digestive systems to handle pelleted foods.
Where to Buy Crested Gecko Diets
Both Repashy CGD and Clark’s Diet are available for purchase online. Repashy CGD was also distributed by T-Rex and may be available in local pet stores. However, for the newest formula we recommend buying online.
Local pickup of Repashy CGD in Arizona (we also ship nationally)
Pangea Reptile ships CGD US, Canada and International orders
Clark’s Diet – US & International (excluding Canada)
